Judith Eakins, schmuck, stole from elderly mom, charged with ripping off high school

Ever heard someone described as being so greedy that she would steal from her own mother? Well, that particular shoe fits Judith Eakins, 53, as if it was made for her, since she did steal from her own mother, a 92 year old with dementia who died last month.

But that's not the only reason Eakins is a stellar candidate for schmuckification. She's also been charged with embezzling $150,000 from Golden High School. That's one busy schmuck! Details on both incidents below.

Dorothy E. Morvay was born May 31, 1920 in Denver, Colorado to Adam and Jennie (Lombard) Ross, and passed away March 25, 2013 at the age of 92. She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Joseph. Dorothy is survived by her son Ernest Morvay and his wife Jane and her daughter Judy Eakins. She is also survived by her grandchildren Molly, Amy, Hannah and Matthew Morvay and Joseph Eakins.

The Horan & McConaty facility where Dorothy Morvay's memorial service was held.

Turns out, though, that "Judy" didn't acknowledge the existence of brother Ernest, as least when it came to Dorothy's cash

According to the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office, Dorothy suffered from dementia; Judith was granted medical and financial power of attorney in her case. In 2009, she moved her mom into a retirement community with a nursing-care component, completing paperwork that allowed Dorothy's social security payments, supplement by income from a pension, to pay for her residency. Then, in March 2011, she stopped the payments, instead depositing the dough into into her own bank account for what are described as "her personal expenses."

As for Ernest, he had no knowledge of these shenanigans, since Judith institutionalized their mom without telling him and listed herself as an only child -- and him as a relative not allowed to have any contact with her.

Ernest, meanwhile, thought his mother had disappeared, filing a missing persons report with the Wheat Ridge Police Department. Officers subsequently found her at the nursing home, but when he tried to contact the facility, staffers there refused to put him in touch with her per Judith's no-contact dictate. By the time he was finally allowed to visit, Dorothy's dementia was such that she didn't recognize him.

This past December, Judith formally pleaded guilty to attempted theft of an at-risk person over $500, with the amount being way over the minimum -- an estimated $32,000. The Jeffco DA wanted jail time for Judith, but this week, she was sentenced instead to six years probation and six weeks in a work-release program.

Fortunately for prosecutors, they should get another crack at Ms. Eakins.

Continue for more about Schmuck of the Week Judith Eakins, including photos and video.

Judith worked at Golden High School from October 1999 until November 2012 in a variety of positions, with a switchover in 2008 to financial secretary.

If your "danger" sign isn't going off yet, turn it on.

This past September, court records note, the high school conducted an internal audit that discovered losses in accounts Judith managed between 2009 and 2012. That prompted more investigation and the discovery of receipts that allegedly show that cash handed over to Eakins didn't make its way into the official school account.

How much? Just $156,000 or so. The Jeffco DA's office believes the money was culled from ticket sales to school events, including formal dancers, plays and concerts, where Judith would often work the door.

She's also thought to have used the school credit card for (remember this line from the elder-abuse narrative?) "her personal use."

In late January, Judith was formally charged with theft and embezzlement of public property, and earlier this week, she pleaded not guilty; she's currently scheduled for a jury trial beginning on August 5. We're guessing prosecutors are even more eager to put her behind bars for these offenses, given their failure to do so in the case of her mom.

Look below to see a larger version of her mug shot, followed by a brief 9News report about her embezzlement arrest.

Judith Eakins.

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